Original Data Provided By: Omid Kashan, DM, David McCandless Karl Webster, Dr Stephanie Starling Subtitles Compiled By: BreadCodes
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TRUE Northup harvested sugar cane during the periods Epps hired him out. He was good at it. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
TRUE-ISH Northup doesn't specifically mention this, but the slaves at every place Northup worked were closely supervised & often sung as they laboured. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup
TRUE The slaves were never afforded a bed or a pillow or any other form of bedding or furniture beyond a rough blanket.
TRUE-ISH Northup did make several attempts at manufacturing pen & ink from the little he had available. Although he doesn't mention blackberry juice, it's feasible he tried using it as ink. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
FALSE Director & screenwriter made this scene up, stating they 'just wanted a bit of tenderness [...] Then after she's climaxed, she's back where she was. She's back in hell, & that's when she turns & cries.' History vs. Hollywood
TRUE Northup was a prosperous homeowner with a taste for luxury, so it's likely he had a comfy bed. He was deeply in love with his wife, Anne. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, p1-8
TRUE Northup was an accomplished professional violinist. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, p1-8
TRUE Northup was an accomplished professional violinist. He played regularly at upper-class parties through the winter season. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch1
TRUE-ISH Northup had 3 children, Elizabeth, 10, Margaret, 8, & Alonzo, 5. Only Margaret & Alonzo make an appearance in the movie. They did have a nice family home. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch1
TRUE Anne was a successful cook, & during court weeks she was employed as a chef at Sherrill's Coffee House for good money. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch1
TRUE The children either went away with Anne or stayed with their aunt while Anne was away. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch1
TRUE-ISH Mr. Moon was the keeper of a tavern that Northup frequented, & Northup was walking nearby that tavern when he met Hamilton & Brown. However, Northup didn't remember who it was that made the introduction. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch2
TRUE They told Northup they were entertainers looking for a musician to accompany their shows for 2 weeks en route to Washington. They offered good pay. Northup was excited at the prospect of good money & a trip to the city. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch2
TRUE Northup was thrilled by the city & all it had to offer. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch2
TRUE-ISH Brown & Hamilton had bought liquor for Northup at several establishments throughout the day. The scene where Northup is given $43 & they celebrate their success did happen but it was the previous evening, & was in an apartment, not a restaurant. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch2
TRUE Hamilton & Brown most likely drugged Northup, rendering him terribly ill. They put him to bed in kind manner. Hours or days later he found himself in chains in a cell, still groggy. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch2
TRUE Northup repeated over & over that he was a free man, while Burch insisted he was a Georgia runaway. Burch beat him first with a paddle until it broke, then with a cat o' 9 tails whip, trying to beat a 'confession' out of Northup. It didn't work. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch3
TRUE-ISH Northup didn't mention this exchange specifically, but they were all given a new set of clothes to keep them looking presentable for buyers. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch3
TRUE The captives had to sponge off naked in the yard under supervision. Randall cried near constantly for his mother. Radburn made Northup quieten him down, which he did by promising his mama would be there soon. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch3
TRUE The 3 of them confided in each other, discussed their options. At this stage Northup was all for plotting, making escape plans. The others were more resigned. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch3
TRUE Eliza & Emily were added to the group, much to Randall's delight. The 3 of them were incredibly close, & Northup recalls them holding onto each other all day & night. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch3
TRUE They were dragged out by night, lined up ready for a journey. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch4
TRUE They were laid in a flatbed truck & sent to the docks, where they were moved onto a ship. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch4
TRUE Ray did advise Northup to stop insisting he was an educated freeman, for it would only earn him trouble. Discovering Robert was in a similar situation to his own, & had been beaten every time he spoke out, Northup resolved to take Ray's advice. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch3, 4
We couldn't find a source for this. Northup doesn't mention that Robert wore a muzzle. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
TRUE-ISH Northup did discuss the possibility of attacking the crew & escaping, although it was with Robert & another man, Arthur, not with Ray. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
FALSE Robert did die on the ship, but from smallpox. While the rape of female slaves was all too common, Eliza wasn't raped by a sailor on that journey. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
TRUE-ISH Robert's body was thrown overboard, but by one of the sailors. His death put an end to Northup & Robert's escape plot. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
FALSE-ISH On arrival at the dock a man named Arthur, who had been kidnapped, was rescued by his friends. He was overjoyed & ran to them. Since Arthur was omitted from the movie, they seem to have mocked up a similar-ish scene with Ray. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
TRUE There were at least 50 slaves the the dock sitting around ready to be prepped & sold when Northup arrived. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
TRUE-ISH Although the specific trip to Parker's for new luggage shown in the movie wasn't mentioned in the memoir, Northup did write about his family's frequent visits to Parker's for 'articles necessary for my family'. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch1
We couldn't find a source for this. Northup did shop at Parker's but he didn't write about any incident with a Jasper or Fitzgerald. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch1
TRUE-ISH Freeman had 'Platt' on his list but nobody had heard of a Platt. Northup had been called 'steward' previously, so while the movie suggests he ignores the call out of pride, he actually just didn't know he was supposed to be Platt. He didn't object to the name. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch5
TRUE Freeman & his buyers looked over the captives like livestock, slapping their bodies, looking inside their mouths etc., checking their physical strength & soundness. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch6
TRUE Freeman carefully arranged his 'stock' in his parlour, lining them up in order of size, placing different groups around the room. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch6
TRUE-ISH Ford did seek to buy Northup & Eliza, but by this stage Randall was long gone, already sold to another buyer. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch6
TRUE Randall was made to perform to show his athleticism, & a price was agreed. Eliza screamed & begged not to be separated from her children throughout the sales. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch6
TRUE Ford wanted to buy Emily to soothe Eliza, but Freeman refused to sell her, claiming that her beauty & light skin would make her priceless in the years to come. Freeman separated Eliza from Emily by force – a good deal more force than was shown in the film. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch6
TRUE Ford's new slaves were rested & given food when they arrived. Eliza cried continually for her children. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
TRUE-ISH Although Northup doesn't mention Tibeats singing to them, he was described as a vicious small-minded man. Tibeats & overseer Chapin supervised the slaves. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
TRUE Timber felling & other woodwork was the main job there. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
TRUE Ford did read passages from the bible to his slaves every Sunday, selecting sections that encouraged kindness toward one another. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
TRUE There was a group of Native Americans settled at the edge of Indian Creek, with whom Northup became friendly & often attended their dances. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
TRUE-ISH This debate did happen, but it wasn't between Tibeats & Northup but between Northup & another man, Adam Taydem, who was Ford's foreman. Ford chose Northup's idea, which pissed Taydem off. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
TRUE-ISH Northup's idea did work well & he was highly commended by Ford, & celebrated by the other slaves. Taydem wasn't impressed. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7
FALSE Northup didn't write of Ford giving him a violin, but did write of numerous other kindnesses he offered, including instant forgiveness & care following Northup's escape attempt (not in the movie). 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch11
TRUE-ISH While Northup doesn't mention he & Eliza arguing over her grieving, they did talk about how she suffered. She wept constantly. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE Ford did read the bible to his slaves, & Eliza pretty much never stopped weeping. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE Ford sold Northup to Tibeats. Tibeats was labouring at Ford's at the time, so Northup remained where he was doing the same work, only under a new master. Tibeats constantly antagonised him & was described as cruel & deranged, direspected even by other whites. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE-ISH Northup didn't see Eliza being dragged away, but she did spend most of her time crying after she was taken from her children. When she became too weak to be useful she was sold. Fully overwhelmed by grief, she stopped eating & drinking & slowly died. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch11
TRUE Eliza had lived with her previous master, to whom she bore Emily, for 9yrs. He was in love with her & had promised her freedom. He then grew ill & Eliza ended up the property of her master's son-in-law, who sold her & her children on. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE Northup obeyed Tibeats' instructions to the letter, but Tibeats somehow found fault & moved to lash Northup. Knowing he had done no wrong, Northup retaliated & totally lost it, beating Tibeats until his arm ached. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE Overseer Chapin did intervene. He was sympathetic to Northup & advised him to stay put for him own safety. He galloped off for help. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE Northup stayed put. He described a well of unbearable regret welling up as he waited. Tibeats returned with two men, friends from nearby plantations. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE-ISH The 3 men bound Northup, who didn't resist, so tightly his flesh swelled up & around the rope. They put a noose around his neck & selected a tree, but Chapin intervened before they could hang him. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch8
TRUE-ISH Although Northup wasn't hanging by his neck like in the film, he did st & in intolerable heat for hours & hours & hours. He describes excrutiating pain from the ropes & the burning ground. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch9
TRUE Chapin had ordered a fellow slave to gallop on Ford's fastest mule to fetch Ford back. Ford came galloping in, cut Northup's ropes. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch9
TRUE-ISH Northup to sleep on the floor of the 'great house' that night. Chapin, not Ford, watched over him. Northup was hired out several days later, after he'd seen Tibeats a few more times & nothing had happened. Ford instructed Tibeats sell Northup, for Northup's safety. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch9, 10
FALSE Northup never told Ford of his free status, although he later regretted that he hadn't done so, since Ford was the kindest master he slaved under over his 12 years of bondage. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch7, 9
TRUE-ISH Northup's new master, Tanner, addressed his new gang of slaves using bible passages, interpreted to mean disobedience should be punished with lashes. It wasn't Epps, Epps came later. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch9
TRUE At Epps' cotton plantation the whip was cracked from dusk 'til dawn. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch12, 13
TRUE Patsey was a wonder with the cotton, picking more than double a good average yield every day. Epps lusted after her. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch13
TRUE Slaves were expected to pick a minimum of 200lb a day. Any less & they would be whipped. Even if they surpassed that amount, they would be whipped if they then dropped below their record. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch12
We couldn't find a source for this. We couldn't find a source for this. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup
TRUE Epps was a drunk, & frequently burst into the slave cabins at night & demanded everybody enter the house for dancing. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch13
TRUE Any lagging or apparent lack of enthusiasm during the festivities would be punished with lashes. He bought a violin for Northup to play at these events. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch13
TRUE Mrs Epps was wildly jealous of Patsey & often threw broken bottles & such at her face out of the blue. Epps refused to sell her - he was infatuated, plus she was a very skilled cotton picker. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch13
TRUE-ISH Epps' wife did trust Northup to go & fetch things for her from the local store. In his memoir, Northup describes her as a much nicer lady than she's shown to be in the film. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
We couldn't find a source for this. We couldn't find a source for this. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
TRUE Northup often went to the store for Mrs Epps. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
FALSE-ISH Although Northup did return the groceries to Mrs Epps, there was no 'trouble' for him to lie about. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
FALSE Mrs Shaw, the slave wife of a white plantation owner, did not have Patsey & Northup over for tea. The scene was invented to 'give Mistress Shaw a voice'. History vs. Hollywood
TRUE-ISH While Patsey & Northup worked alongside each other in the fields, drunken Epps appeared gesturing for Patsey to come to him. Northup told her to ignore him. Epps picked a fight, which Mrs Epps got involved in, & Epps lied about the cause of the fight to her. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE Northup spent many nights contemplating his situation over the years. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup
TRUE Epps repeatedly raped & beat Patsey. Time
TRUE It was during his trips to collect items for Mrs Epps that Northup decided to steal a sheet of paper from the roll she purchased. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE Northup stole one sheet of paper & hid it under the boards of his hut. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE-ISH Although this particular series of events isn't described in the memoir, Northup recalls Mrs Epps having it in for Patsey, & often demanding she be lashed for no reason but her own jealousy. She did also offer goodies from her own kitchen to all but Patsey. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
FALSE This scene appears to have come from a misreading of Northup's memoir, in which he states that it was Mrs Epps who asked Northup to drown Patsey, not Patsey herself. History vs. Hollywood
TRUE-ISH Epps' fields were plagued with cotton-worm, but we don't know what he blamed it on, if anything. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
TRUE-ISH Epps' hired out his cotton pickers to make money from them, since there was no cotton to pick in his fields. Northup was hired to Judge Turner. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
TRUE-ISH Although we don't know what methods Northup used to create pen & ink, he reported that he tried a number of means. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE Turner allowed Northup to play his fiddle & keep the proceeds, & he did well over the season, taking $17 on a single night once. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
FALSE-ISH Northup's violin comforted him over the years as he thought of his family, but he doesn't mention carving it with their names. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch20
TRUE Turner allowed Northup to play his violin at local balls & events. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch14
We couldn't find a source for this. Epps' wife had punished Patsey 'beyond endurance' for her husband's infatuation. There was no mention of a daughter, although Epps' regular rape of Patsey might conceivably have caused a pregnancy. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch13
TRUE Soon after the slaves returned to Epps' plantation they were joined by a white man, Armsby, who had hoped to be employed as an overseer & was instead put into the fields to labour alongside the slaves, a arre sight. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
We couldn't find a source for this. This scene wasn't in the memoir. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE-ISH Although we don't know whether Armbsy expressed sympathy for slaves, we do know he said enough for Northup to trust him with sending a letter on his behalf. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE Northup did offer Armsby the money he'd saved from his performances in return for him mailing a letter. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE-ISH Although probably Northup tried using sticks as pens during his trial-and-error attempts to write a letter, he ended up using a duck feather dipped in boiled maple juice. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE Armsby did tell Epps of Northup's request, & Epps challenged Northup on the matter. Northup was able to persuade him that Armsby was a liar, out to get a promotion. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
TRUE Northup did burn his letter after coming so close to getting caught. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch16
FALSE Old Uncle Abram was still alive & working the day Northup left the plantation. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch21
TRUE Bass, a Canadian labourer, worked on Epps' plantation for a period alongside Northup. He was against slavery & often debated the ethics of the system with Epps & others. The conversation they had in this instance was recorded almost verbatim in the memoir. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch19
TRUE Patsey had apparently gone missing, & nobody had seen her leave. Epps went insane, running around screaming for her in a rage. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch18
TRUE-ISH After a few hours Patsey returned, having visited the Shaw's from some soap as Mrs Epps refused to give her her ration. Epps didn't believe her story, despite the soap she held in her hand, & demanded Northup lash her. He didn't hold a gun to his head, though. After a while Northup stopped & refused to continue, at which point Epps took over, lashing her close to death. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch18
TRUE Patsey could barely move for weeks. As she lay on her stomach the other women tended to the wounds with melted tallow. Northup recalls the incident with total horror. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch18
We couldn't find a source for this. Not in the memoir. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup
TRUE Northup, after listening to Bass' anti-slavery debates for some days, decided to take the risk of confiding in him. They talked, & Northup asked him to write to several of his friends in the North. Bass was fearful - if caught he would be killed, but agreed to post letters & more if required, to get Northup home. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup
TRUE A lot of time passed. They had figured a 6-week window between mailing the letters & getting a reply was reasonable, but 10 weeks & more passed with no response. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup
TRUE-ISH It was Henry B. Northup, not Mr. Parker, who turned up with the sheriff that day. Epps was enraged by the whole scene, & sought legal counsel to get Northup back. Northup's people had, however, prepared substantial & extensive evidence & no lawyer would represent Epps. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch21
TRUE As Northup climbed into the wagon he saw Patsey & hugged her goodbye. She was happy for him but distraught that her friend & protector was leaving. She did collapse to the ground as they left. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch21
TRUE-ISH Northup went home to his family. Margaret had a young son named after Northup. Margaret didn't recognise her father when she opened the door to him. Alonzo was away at the time working - he had spent his life trying to raise money to buy back his father. 12 Years a Slave (1853) by Solomon Northup, ch22
TRUE Northup's kidnappers were never brought to justice. He became active in the abolitionist movement, speaking at events across the nation. Nobody knows how or where he died, or under what circumstances. History vs. Hollywood
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Original Data Provided By: Omid Kashan, DM, David McCandless Karl Webster, Dr Stephanie Starling Subtitles Compiled By: BreadCodes